From sentto-2719433-39-1007010764-gtoal=vt.com@returns.groups.yahoo.com Wed Nov 28 23:10:31 2001 Received: from n7.groups.yahoo.com ([216.115.96.57]) by admin.vt.com (8.8.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id XAA17890 for ; Wed, 28 Nov 2001 23:10:30 -0600 (CST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-2719433-39-1007010764-gtoal=vt.com@returns.groups.yahoo.com Received: from [10.1.1.223] by n7.groups.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 29 Nov 2001 05:12:45 -0000 X-Sender: gtoal@vt.com X-Apparently-To: edinburgh-computer-history@yahoogroups.com Received: (EGP: mail-8_0_0_1); 29 Nov 2001 05:12:44 -0000 Received: (qmail 17819 invoked from network); 29 Nov 2001 05:12:43 -0000 Received: from unknown (216.115.97.167) by m5.grp.snv.yahoo.com with QMQP; 29 Nov 2001 05:12:43 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO n6.groups.yahoo.com) (216.115.96.56) by mta1.grp.snv.yahoo.com with SMTP; 29 Nov 2001 05:12:43 -0000 X-eGroups-Return: gtoal@vt.com Received: from [10.1.10.95] by n6.groups.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 29 Nov 2001 05:12:43 -0000 To: edinburgh-computer-history@yahoogroups.com Message-ID: <9u4g4c+n7ff@eGroups.com> User-Agent: eGroups-EW/0.82 X-Mailer: eGroups Message Poster X-Originating-IP: 208.246.62.1 X-eGroups-Announce: yes From: "Graham Toal" X-Yahoo-Profile: graham_toal MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list edinburgh-computer-history@yahoogroups.com; contact edinburgh-computer-history-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list edinburgh-computer-history@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 05:12:44 -0000 Reply-To: edinburgh-computer-history@yahoogroups.com Subject: [ed-comp-hist] This isn't working, is it? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: RO Hello again folks, I'm prompted to write because I've just finished reading "The Difference Engine" by Doron Swade; a fairly readable and unbiased history of Charles Babbage; followed by the story of the restoration of the Difference Engine done by the Science Museum. I recommend it as a good but slightly depressing read. (Depressing in the sense of it is clear that even 150 years ago Babbage's project was doomed by being run in that peculiarly British academic style; if he had been managed and taken to America I'm convinced we'd be 50 years further down the Moore's Law curve by now) The good thing about the book however is no matter how many failures it catalogs, its one success story is the restoration project, which despite many setbacks (mostly managerial/ staffing/financial), did succeed in the end. It is clear to me that *our* project is not going anywhere. If I were in Scotland I would be running around making a nuisance of myself and getting disks and tapes off everyone, but that just doesn't work remotely and no-one in Scotland appears willing to do legwork. I'm thinking that perhaps the self-motivated amateur effort is not the best way to carry out this project. The Difference Engine project was able to raise over quarter of a million to get one piece of equipment restored. Perhaps we should be looking at getting funding for this project, creating a post of historian, and tackling it seriously? I throw out this suggestion to the list, but really it's really directed to Gordon Brebner as I think he's the only person capable of finding finding and creating such a post. I'm thinking something like $75 - $100K would fund staff and hardware. Given the University's history with ICL and ICL's close connection with one of our biggest projects, EMAS, perhaps ICL would be the sensible company to approach first. They co-funded the Babbage project most enthusiatically, according to the book, and this project would be much closer to home for them. However if any of our members know any industry moguls with a nostalgic streak for Edinburgh, don't be reticent to float a trial balloon in their direction. The Science Museum's Difference Engine project is something that has to be seen in person -- the online description is pitiful (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/collections/exhiblets/babbage/start.a sp) and really only makes sense after you buy the book written by the person who happens to be Assistant Director of the Science Museum. The web pages in fact seem to be a tiny precis extracted from the book - and they don't include *any* of the juicy details you really want to know such as Babbage's "Mechanical Notation" Our project would be a permanent online exhibit, done professionally. I would give serious thought to taking a sabattical from my employment in Texas to go do this thing if no-one else would, if it were funded properly. Graham ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Universal Inkjet Refill Kit $29.95 Refill any ink cartridge for less! Includes black and color ink. http://us.click.yahoo.com/gwUrIA/MkNDAA/ySSFAA/9rHolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: edinburgh-computer-history-unsubscribe@egroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/